Strange New Planet
Grade Range: 5 - 8
Time Budget: 1 hour
G.L.E Focus:
WASL Vocabulary:
Overview: This activity develops insight into the processes involved in learning about
planetary exploration. Students use viewing tubes to observe a planet (a model of a planet)
at various stages of investigation. From a pre-launch observation period to a satellite fly-by,
to a rover landing, students will discover how planetary features are discovered by the use of
remote sensing techniques.
Learning Objectives:
• Make multi-sensory observations, collect and organize data
• Gain knowledge about how scientists learn about other planets through simulating
spacecraft missions
Sources: ASU Mars K-12 Education Program 6/99 --Adapted from NASA Education Brief “EB-112:
How to Explore a Planet” 5/93
Materials
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To make the ‘planet(s)’:
Planets can be made and decorated from a variety of materials. Here are some ideas:
- Small stickers, sequins, candy, marbles, anything small and interesting
- Paint the planet various colors
- Clouds: use cotton balls and glue
- Carve channels or make other features like mountains and valleys on the surface
- Apply scent or vinegar to a small area
- Attach a ‘moon’ using a toothpick or shish-kebab skewer
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To make the viewing tubes:
Need one tube, one 5”x5” piece of blue cellophane, one rubber band per student
- Roll up a piece of paper into a tube or use paper towel tubes
- Cover one end of the tube with the cellophane and attach with the rubber band
(This simulates looking at a planet through the Earth’s atmosphere)
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•
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Large towel (to drape over the planet
4-8 Push-pins
Roll of masking tape (to mark the viewing distances)
Activity handouts (4 per student)
Preparation
1. Photocopy Activity handouts. Each student will have 4 different handouts
2. Make viewing tubes (one per student)
3. Make model of the planet the students will observe
Lesson Plan
Set up:
1. Place the planet on a desk in the back of the room and cover it with the towel before
the students arrive. They will need a clear view of the planet from at least one location in
the classroom. Students will observe the planet from different distances, ranging from
the opposite side of the classroom to 2 feet away.
2. Give each student a viewing tube and activity handouts. These viewers should be used
whenever observing the planet. The activity handouts are for the students to record their
observations. Encourage the use of all senses (except taste unless specifically called for).
3. Divide the students into small space mission teams (4-5 people in each team).
4. Introduce the students to their task: to explore a strange new planet.
Activity 1: Pre-Launch Reconnaissance
1. This step simulates earth-bound observations. Arrange students against the sides of
the room by teams. These areas will be referred to as Mission Control. To simulate
Earth's atmosphere, a blue cellophane sheet could be placed on the end of the viewers,
taped or held in place by a rubber band. This helps to simulate the variation that
occurs when viewing objects through the Earth's atmosphere.
2. Remove the towel covering the planet. Teams observe the planet(s) using their
viewers for 1 minute. Replace the towel.
3. Teams can discuss and record their observations of the planet on the Activity 1
handout. At this point, most of the observations will be visual and will include color,
shape, texture, and position. Teams should write questions to be explored in the
future missions to the planet.
Activity 2: Mission 1-The Fly-By (Mariner,4,6,7 -1965, 1969, 1969)
1. A distance of five feet from the planet is marked on the floor with tape. Each team
will have a turn at walking quickly past one side of the planet at the marked distance
(the other side remains draped under towel). You can choose whether some of the
teams observe one side of the planet and the other teams can observe the other side or
all the teams observe the same side.
2. Teams then reconvene at the sides of the room (Mission Control) with their backs to
the planet while the other teams conduct their fly-by.
3. Replace towel over planet once all the fly-bys have taken place.
4. Teams record their observations and discuss what they will be looking for on their
orbit mission.
Activity 3: Mission 2 - The Orbiter (Mariner 9,1971-72; Viking 1 and 2 Orbiters, 197680; Mars Global Surveyor, 1996-present)
1. Each team takes two minutes to orbit (circle) the planet at a distance of two feet.
2. They observe distinguishing features and record their data back at Mission Control.
3. Teams develop a plan for their landing expedition onto the planet's surface. Plans
should include the landing spot and features to be examined.
Activity 4: Mission 3: The Lander (Viking 1 and 2,1976-1982; Mars Pathfinder, 1997)
1. Each team approaches their landing site and marks it with a push pin (or masking tape
if planet will pop using a pin.)
2. Team members take turns observing the landing site with the viewers. Field of view is
kept constant by team members aligning their viewers with the push pin located
inside and at the top of their viewers. Within the field of view, students enact the
mission plan. After a total five minutes, the team returns to "Mission Control" to
discuss and record their findings.
Student Assessment
Each individual student should complete a Student Data Sheet. Each team shares their
data with the class in a team presentation. As a class, compile a list of all information
gathered by the teams to answer the question “What is the planet like?” (or each planet if
multiple planets are used). Have the class vote on a name of the newly discovered planet
or the geologic features discovered using the rules for naming a planet (planetary
nomenclature) which is located at the USGS website:
http://wwwflag.wr.usgs.gov/USGSFlag/Space/nomen
Teams critique their depth of observations and their ability to work together.
Activity Background Information
For information about the Mariner Missions:
http://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/planetary/mars/mariner.html
For information about the Viking Missions:
http://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/planetary/viking.html
For information about the Mars Pathfinder Mission:
http://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/planetary/mesur.html
For information about the Mars Global Surveyor Mission:
http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/mgs/
Web Resources
JPL Mars Mission Homepage: http://marsweb.jpl.nasa.gov
NASA Astrobiology Homepage: http://nai.arc.nasa.gov/index.cfm
ASU Mars Education / Thermal Emission' Spectrometer Homepage: http://tes.asu.edu
Athena Rover Homepage: http://athena.cornell.edu
Windows to the Universe Homepage: http://www.windows.ucar.edu/windows2.html
Stardust Homepage: http://stardust.jpl.nasa.gov
Hubble Space Telescope: http://quest.arc.nasa.gov/hst/index.html
Cassini Mission to Saturn: http://www.jpl.nasa.gov/cassini
Galileo Mission to Jupiter: http://galileo.jpl.nasa.gov
Deep Space Network Homepage: http://deepspace.jpl.nasa.gov/dsn/dsn_educ.html
Solar System Simulator: http://space.jpl.nasa.gov
SETI Homepage: http://www.seti-inst.edu/Welcome.html
Astronomy Picture of the Day: http://antwrp.gsfc.nasa.gov/apod/astropix.html
Planets: http://pds.jpl.nasa.gov/planets
Space Place: http://spaceplace.jpl.nasa.gov
Activity 1: Pre-Launch Reconnaissance - Earth-bound
observations
Name(s):______________________________________________________
Instructions: This step simulates earth-bound observations. Arrange students against the sides of the room
by teams. These areas will be referred to as Mission Control. To simulate Earth's atmosphere and the
variation that occurs when viewing objects through the Earth's atmosphere, a blue cellophane sheet can be
placed on the end of each viewer using a rubber band. Remove the towel covering the planet. Teams
observe the planet(s) using their viewers for 1 minute. Replace the towel.
1. Estimate your distance from the planet:_______________________ (feet or meters).
2. Using your viewer (with blue cellophane attached to simulate Earth's atmosphere)
observe the planet. What types of things do you observe? Record any observations
(shape of planet, color, size, etc.)
3. Discuss all of the observations with your team members while at Mission Control.
Record any team observations that differ from yours.
4. As a team, write questions to be explored in the future missions to the planet. What
else do you wish to know and how will you find that information out (special
features of the planet, life of any kind, etc.)
a.
b.
c.
d.
Activity 2: Mission 1- The Fly-By (Mariner 4, 6, 7 - 1965,1969,1969)
Name(s):______________________________________________________
Instructions: Using their viewers (with the cellophane removed), each team will have a turn at walking
quickly past one side of the planet. A distance of five feet needs be maintained from the planet.
Teams will then meet back at Mission Control with their backs to the planet until all teams have
completed their fly-by of the planet.
1. Record your observations of the planet. What did you see that was the same as your
Earth observations? What did you see that was different? Can you hypothesize
(make a science guess) as to why there were any differences?
2. Record any similarities or differences that your team observed.
3. List the team ideas as to what you want to observe on your next orbiting mission.
a.
b.
c.
d.
Activity 3: Mission 2 - The Orbiter (Mariner 9, 1971-72; Viking I and 2
Orbiters, 1976-80; Mars Global Surveyor, 1996-present)
Name(s):______________________________________________________
Instructions: Using a viewer with the cellophane removed, each team takes a total of two minutes to orbit
(circle) the planet at a distance of two feet. Divide the two minutes by the number of team members to get
the time each person gets to orbit the planet. After the team’s observations, they return to Mission Control.
1. Record your observations of the planet. What did you see that was the same as your
Earth or fly-by observations? What did you see that was different? Can you
hypothesize (make a science guess) as to why there were any differences?
2. Record any similarities or differences that your team observed.
3. As a team, develop a plan for your landing expedition onto the planet's surface.
a. Where will you go and why? How did your team decide where to land?
b. What are the risks or benefits of landing there?
c. What specifically do you want to explore at this site?
d. What type of special equipment or instruments would you need to accomplish
your exploration goals? (Remember, anything you bring has be small and light
enough to bring on a spacecraft!)
Activity 4: Mission 3 - The Lander (Viking 1 and 2, 1976-1982; Mars
Pathfinder 1 1997)
Name(s):______________________________________________________
Instructions: Each team will approach their landing site and mark it with a push pin or masking tape.
Each team member will take a turn observing the landing site through their viewer. Field of view (the
area that you can see through your viewer) is kept constant by aligning the viewer with the push
pin located inside and at the top of their viewers. Each team has a total of five minutes to view
the landing site. After each member views the landing site, return to Mission Control.
1. Now that you have landed, what do you think you can accomplish at this landing
site?
2. How long (in days) will it take you to get the job accomplished?
3. Was your mission successful? Why or why not?
4. What were the greatest challenges of this mission (Personally and as a team)? What
would you change for the next mission?